Gleaning from the Psalms

Gleanings in the Psalms

Psalm 10 — (Concluded) and Psalm 11

Psalm 10 Concluded

Verse 11. "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it."

"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil". Eccl. 8 verse 11. God forbears punishing, therefore, men forbearing repenting. The sinner thinks thus - "God hath spared me all this while; he that eked out patience into long-suffering; surely he will not punish". But God, by his patience would bribe sinners to repentance; but, alas! How is this patience abused? God's long-suffering hardens: because God stops the vials of his wrath, sinners stop the conduit of tears.

Thomas Watson

Verse 13. "Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?"

The atheist denies God's ordering of sublunary matters … "Is there knowledge in the Most High?" Making him a maimed deity, without an eye of providence, or an arm of power, and at most restraining him to matters above the clouds. But he that dares to CONFINE the king of heaven will soon after endeavour to DEPOSE him, and fall at last flatly to DENY him.

Thomas Fuller

Verse 14. "Thou has seen it &hellip' the poor committeth himself unto thee".
Be sure thou lettest no discontent or dissatisfaction lie upon thy spirit at God's dealings with thee; but chide thy heart for it … and thus doing, with God's blessing, thou shalt keep thy faith in breath for a longer race, when called to run it.

William Gurnall

Verse 17. "Lord, thou has heard THE DESIRE OF THE HUMBLE … ".

Prayer is the offering up of our desires to God in the Name of Christ, for such things are as agreeable to His will. It is an offering of our DESIRES. Desires are the soul and life of prayer; words are but the body. Now, as the body without the soul is dead, so are prayers unless they are animated by our desires - "Lord, thou hast heard the DESIRE of the humble". God heareth not words, but DESIRES.

Thomas Watson

PSALM 11

The Psalms are a rich repository of experimental knowledge. David, at the different periods of his life, was place in almost every situation in which a believer, whether rich or poor, can be placed; and in these heavenly compositions, he delineates all the workings of his heart. He introduces, too, the sentiments and conduct of the various persons who were accessory either to his troubles or his joys; and thus sets before us a compendium of all that is passing in the hearts of men throughout the world. When he penned this Psalm he was under persecution from Saul, who sought his life and hunted him as "a partridge upon the mountains". His timid friends were alarmed for his safety, and recommended him to flee to some mountain where he had a hiding-place, and thus to conceal himself from the rage of Saul. But David, being strong in faith, spurned the idea of resorting to any such expedients, and determined confidently to repose his trust in God.

Charles Simeon

Verse 1. "In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?"

The saints of old would not accept deliverances on base terms. The scorned to fly away for the enjoyment of rest … As willing were many of the martyrs to die as to dine. The tormentors were TIRED in torturing Blandina (a female martyr).
Verse 2. "For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrows in the quiver". Like the plotting of the chief priests and Pharisees, how they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill Him. The BENT THEIR BOW when they hired Judas Iscariot for the betrayal of his Master; they MADE READY THEIR ARROWS IN THE QUIVER when "they sought false witnesses against Jesus to put him to death".

From Neale's Commentary

Verse 4. "… his eyes behold …" Take God into thy counsel. Heaven overlooks hell. God at any time can tell thee what plots are hatching there against thee.

William Gurnall

Verse 5. "The Lord trieth the righteous …"

Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet -
Lay me low, and keep me there.

William Cowper

Verse 7. (1) The Lord possesses righteousness as a personal attribute … "for the RIGHTEOUS Lord …" (2) Loves it in the abstract … "For the righteous Lord LOVETH RIGHTEOUSNESS …" (3) And blesses those who practise it … "for the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; HIS COUNTENANCE DOTH BEHOLD THE UPRIGHT".

Hints to the Village Preacher

This Page Title – Gleanings from the Psalms – Psalm 10 continued and Psalm 11
The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness".
Internet Edition number 46 – placed on line January 2004
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